Welcome to Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid

Strategically representing companies, trade associations, and non-profit organizations before Congress and the federal government with a focus on results and a commitment to direct, personal attention to client interests.

Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reidbrings unprecedented issue expertise, political know-how, and strong relationships – across branches of government, political parties, and changes in leadership –
with key elected officials and policymakers and their staffs.

Clients

Team

Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid principals have nearly eleven decades of collective experience in both public and private sectors and are suited to provide clients with advice on how to navigate Washington’s policy making and get results. These dynamic and articulate professionals have the experience and ability to effectively represent your organization.

Lisa Kountoupes

With more than two decades of experience providing public policy and government affairs consulting services, Lisa Kountoupes is a recognized leader in Washington. She has provided strategic advice and lobbying expertise to major corporations, industry associations, and non-profit organizations.

National Journal considers Ms. Kountoupes one of the preeminent insiders on how to make things happen in the halls of Congress and federal agencies. She has extensive experience in energy, the environment, technology, telecommunications, health care, trade, financial services, and budget matters. Prior to her work in the private sector she held a series of senior positions in federal government, in the Executive Branch and the United States Congress.

Ms. Kountoupes served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs for President Clinton. In this capacity she served as the President’s liaison to the House of Representatives and acted as a primary contact for Members of the House with the White House. She developed legislative strategies and organized efforts to garner votes for Administration priorities. Additionally, she was a key part of the efforts to ensure a smooth technological transition into the Year 2000. Ms. Kountoupes also worked to secure passage of significant legislative accomplishments of the Clinton Administration, including permanent normal trade relations with China and digital signatures.

Ms. Kountoupes spent three years as Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) where she was part of the team that secured passage of the 1997 Balanced Budget Agreement. At OMB she worked extensively on entitlement reform (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and welfare) and was closely involved with regulatory reform efforts and government-wide management issues. When she entered the Executive Branch in May 1994, she served as a Special Assistant in the Secretary’s office at the U.S. Department of Energy. At DOE Ms. Kountoupes was deeply involved in issues related to the electric utility industry, the nation’s nuclear weapons complex, and the nation’s research laboratories. She also worked on the Department’s budget and management matters.

Prior to her tenure in the Clinton Administration, Ms. Kountoupes served as a member of the staff of Chairman John D. Dingell of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. In that position she worked on a number of energy and telecommunications matters; significantly, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Clean Air Act of 1990.

Ms. Kountoupes graduated with honors and distinction from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Lori Denham

Lori Denham joined Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid in 2008, after nearly two decades of service on Capitol Hill and in the private sector.

Ms. Denham served for more than four years as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Industry Operations for the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), representing the world’s fastest growing and most successful retailers including Best Buy, Gap, Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart. Ms. Denham lead the association’s efforts in public policy and advocacy, retail industry relations, external communications, and overseeing a number of key issues including health care, trade, privacy, and product safety. In addition, Ms. Denham served as the association’s lead democratic liaison to Capitol Hill.

Prior to joining RILA, Ms. Denham worked on Capitol Hill for Rep. Cal Dooley (D-CA) for more than 13 years in a variety of roles including legislative director and chief of staff. During her tenure with Dooley, Denham helped build and provide key strategic and public policy support for the New Democrat Coalition. Ms. Denham’s leadership on Trade Promotion Authority and Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China were instrumental to their passage, and she has been actively involved in health care, innovation, technology, and pro-growth policy for nearly two decades.

In addition to her roles with RILA and Rep. Dooley, Ms. Denham also served a stint as Legislative Director to former Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-OR). Ms. Denham handled all of her Financial Services Committee work during this time.

Ms. Denham has a range of campaign experience including managing the re-election campaign for Rep. Cal Dooley in 1998. In 2004, Denham served as a senior staffer on the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign where she worked as Chief of Staff to Elizabeth Edwards.

Denham received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Comparative Literature from the University of California at Davis in 1990. She received her Master’s in Public Administration from the George Washington University.

Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Hershey Carr served as Legislative Director for Congressman Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. On behalf of Congressman Pitts, Ms. Hershey Carr worked on the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, the Medical Device User Fee Modernization Act, the Broadcast Indecency Act, as well as amendments to the Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act. She also helped to strategize and shepherd the passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China.

Throughout her nine-year tenure on Capitol Hill, Ms. Hershey Carr worked extensively on fiscal and social policies important to conservative Republicans. A leading conservative in the House, Congressman Pitts is a member of the House Republican Study Committee, House Republican Whip Team, and Chairman of the Values Action Team. Ms. Hershey Carr continues to work with Members and staff of these organizations on a variety of policy issues.

Prior to her tenure in Washington DC, in 1996 Ms. Hershey Carr served as a campaign manager for Congressman Pitts’ initial campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Ms. Hershey Carr got her start in politics in 1982 with her father, recently-retired Pennsylvania State Representative Arthur Hershey, and worked on each of his re-election campaigns. Ms. Hershey Carr continues to volunteer her time and expertise to local and national campaigns in Pennsylvania.

Ms. Hershey Carr received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Business Administration from Messiah College, Grantham, PA.

Randi Reid

Randi Reid brings more than 15 years of state and federal government experience to Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid. Prior to entering private consulting, Ms. Reid served as Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyoming) for five Congresses in 2005-2013. Senator Enzi is a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the Senate Budget Committee.

On behalf of Senator Enzi, Ms. Reid oversaw all policy development and provided political counsel on landmark legislation including health care reform, the Marketplace Fairness Act, and Senator Enzi’s international tax reform legislation, S. 2091, the United States Job Creation and International Tax Reform Act of 2012. She also led coalition efforts to galvanize third-party support for critical Finance and HELP Committee legislation, and has worked with nearly every office on the Finance and HELP Committees.

Ms. Reid is a long-recognized leader among Senate Legislative Directors. In 2007, she co-created the Senate Bipartisan Legislative Directors’ group which continues to meet today. Ms. Reid was the Senator’s primary liaison to the Republican Steering Committee where she focused on building support among conservatives for budget, tax and health care matters. She also worked closely with committee staff and member offices when Senator Enzi served as the HELP panel’s top Republican member for 8 years.

A Texas native, Ms. Reid began her career in state government affairs in 1995 working as a Legislative Analyst with the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations, focusing on taxation, telecommunications, and transportation policy issues. Ms. Reid started her career on Capitol Hill in 1999 as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Enzi, and led successful policy efforts on transportation, defense, economic development, and appropriations. She worked as Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas) during his freshman term in 2003-2004. Ms. Reid served as Congressman Burgess’ primary counsel for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee activities and legislation, including key surface transportation policy changes in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.

Ms. Reid received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science from Southwestern University in 1995 and a Master of Public Policy, Concentration in Public Management and Budget from Georgetown University in 2001.

David Peluso

Prior to entering private consulting, Mr. Peluso served as Chief of Staff for House Republican Conference Chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the fourth ranking member in the leadership of the House of Representatives. In addition, Peluso was Chief of Staff for Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida. Both McMorris Rodgers and Bilirakis are senior members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Mr. Peluso’s extensive work in the House Republican Conference have made him a well-placed expert on the complex dynamics in the House with unique insight into the day to day thinking of Members of Congress across the ideological spectrum.

Mr. Peluso is intimately familiar with the inner workings of Washington, has a strong grasp of a broad set of issues, and has developed a highly sharpened political sense making him a tremendous resource for clients. His legislative successes include securing policy victories in appropriations, energy and homeland security bills, as well as shepherding bills concerning tax, regulatory reform, telecommunications and cybersecurity. Mr. Peluso also provided strategic counsel on landmark laws including the ABLE Act and Steve Gleason Act, along with several bills to modernize healthcare delivery.

Earning a strong reputation as a skilled political professional valued by Members and staff from both parties, Mr. Peluso was part of the strategic leadership team for the House Republican Conference. Peluso is respected for his strategic communications skills and his political savvy. In addition to his work with Members, he is a recognized leader among House Republican Chiefs of Staff, where he has presented regularly at the Congressional Institute’s Chiefs of Staff retreat and helped lead outreach efforts which fostered collaboration among House Chiefs of Staff and leadership offices. During his time with Congressman Bilirakis, he led the campaign that secured Congressman’s position on powerful House Committee on Energy & Commerce in coordination with House Leadership and key stakeholders.

Prior to his tenure in Washington DC, in 2006 Mr. Peluso served as a Finance Director for Congressman Bilirakis’ initial campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Peluso received a Bachelor of Science in Technology Management from St. Petersburg College. A native of New Jersey, he and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Washington, DC with their two daughters and dog.

Rose Sullivan

Prior to consulting, Ms. Sullivan served as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Amy Klobuchar, a member of the Senate Democratic Leadership, where she oversaw the legislative, communications, political and administrative operations in the Senator’s office. Ms. Sullivan advised Senator Klobuchar on all matters related to her Chairmanship of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, Ranking Membership of the Joint Economic Committee and active membership on the Commerce, Judiciary, Agriculture and Rules Committees. She was a noted leader in the Democratic caucus and provided instrumental strategic guidance to Senator Klobuchar as she rose in leadership and seniority. Ms. Sullivan also played a key role as a liaison to other Democratic leadership staff, the White House and senior Administration officials.

Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Ms. Sullivan acted as Senator Klobuchar’s Legislative Director. In this role, she managed the legislative and political strategy on major pieces of legislation including the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, the America Invents Act, the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, the 2014 Farm Bill and a myriad of issues relating to health care, innovation, consumer protection, and agriculture.

Ms. Sullivan began her career in Washington, D.C. working as Senator Klobuchar’s health care Legislative Assistant—developing a deep policy expertise and serving as the Senator’s chief adviser during the formulation and passage of the Affordable Care Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Ms. Sullivan previously worked in Senator Klobuchar’s Minnesota office as an Outreach Director and got her start in politics in 2005 working on Senator Klobuchar’s successful 2006 U.S. Senate race.

Ms. Sullivan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.

Paula Short

Paula Short is the Office Administrator at Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid. Ms. Short came to the firm in May of 2010 after having worked on Capitol Hill for 25 years, first as scheduler and personal assistant for 16 years to Congressman David Bonior (D-MI), who was the Democratic Whip in the House of Representatives. Upon his retirement from Congress, Paula remained in the office of the Democratic Whip as the Office Manager for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

She continued as the Office Manager for Congresswoman Pelosi when she became the Democratic Leader and the first woman Speaker in the House of Representatives. In addition to managing all of Ms. Pelosi’s Washington DC offices, she supervised the internship program and managed the House of Representatives Democratic Page Program. Paula studied Business Administration at Pennsylvania State University.

Logan Alexander-Young

He came to Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid in October of 2016, after his internship on the Hill in the office of Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Before that, he was an intern in the St. Paul office of Senator Al Franken (D-MN). Mr. Alexander-Young holds a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Steven Oberlander

Steven joined Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid as an Assistant in June of 2017 following the completion of his undergraduate studies. He worked as an intern for the firm in the summer of 2016 and interned on the Hill in the office of Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in the summer of 2015. A New Jersey native, Steven graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the spring of 2017 with a B.A. in History and a minor in Political Science.

Will Marshall

Will came to Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid in June of 2017 following an internship with the Minority Staff of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Prior to that, he interned with Biotechnology Innovation Organization, BIO, and in the Washington D.C. office of Representative Jim Himes (D-CT). Will graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in Government and Politics and a minor in Global Poverty.